Barack Obama was introduced at campaign stop in New York by none other than threatened-independent candidate wannabe Michael Bloomberg yesterday. Here’s what Obama said about Mike in the opening of his speech:
I want to thank Mayor Bloomberg for his extraordinary leadership. At a time when Washington is divided in old ideological battles, he shows us what can be achieved when we bring people together to seek pragmatic solutions. Not only has he been a remarkable leader for New York –he has established himself as a major voice in our national debate on issues like renewing our economy, educating our children, and seeking energy independence. Mr. Mayor, I share your determination to bring this country together to finally make progress for the American people.
This, of course, leading to much Veep speculation for the pair. Marc Ambinder notes:
Obama isn’t much of an administrator or a details guy by his own admission, while Bloomberg is so concerned about Your Health and Welfare that he studies intently the ins and outs of congestion pricing and trans-fats. He’s a prime minister-type — although he brings an outsider’s sense of efficiency to the bureaucracy. Let Obama be the vision guy; Bloomberg could be the brass-tacks administrator.
Personally, I think Obama has about five choices for Veep at the moment, and they are (in order):
1) Sam Nunn
2) Jim Webb
3) Evan Bayh
4) Phil Bredesen
5) Mike Easley
The problems, of course, being that Nunn has announced he doesn’t want the Veep slot, Webb is short on experience like Obama, and Bayh doesn’t balance the ticket geographically. That leaves Bredesen and Easley, both incredibly popular governors of red states that lend a lot of strength to an Obama ticket.
Bloomberg would be an interesting pick, though, with his business background and perceived strength in the area of economic understanding, since the economy is (and most likely will be) the main concern for voters.
March 28th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
You’re forgetting Wesley Clark, the ideal military credentials guy who appeals to both swing voters and liberals.
March 28th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Metro, I agree, and think he’d be top pick for a Hillary ticket. But he’s a Clintonista and I just can’t see him agreeing to team up with their main rival.
March 28th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
Nonsense. If Obama’s the nominee, the Clintons are over. Besides, an opportunity to be VP for a guy who wants the Presidency isn’t something anyone turns down out of loyalty to another politician, let alone one whose party has rejected her.
March 28th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
Plus the Clinton connection just makes it a better pick for trying to bring the party back together.
March 28th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Wesley Clark is a dork.
March 28th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
This would certainly fit the Illiniosguy mold of assuming that the most qualified veep on the economy is the wealthiest businessman! Just kidding Iguy
Bloomberg is the kind of VP an Obama ticket needs to lend credibility to his quickly diminishing reputation of a uniter.
March 28th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Evan Bayh is a Clintonista too, has bashed Barack a bit…Don’t think it will be him.
March 28th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
Laurent, great point… scratch Bayh off the list.
March 28th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
I don’t think it much matters who these folks have backed in the primary. I don’t think Obama would dream of crossing Ed Rendell off the list, because he backed Hillary. That’s called pettiness, and while Obama has a whole host of personal flaws (cowardice and disingenuousness among them), I don’t see much evidence that cowardice is among them. I think we’re either looking at a Rendell/Bredesen/Bayh centrist/white male type pick, or someone with significant foreign policy creds.
March 28th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
Also, I’d love it if Obama picked Bloomberg; he’s struggling with working class white men and he picks…a secular Jewish billionaire who’s only ounce of conservatism comes from relatively pro-Business inclinations. Huh?
March 28th, 2008 at 6:07 pm
I would expect Obama to pick a Clinton backer (or Clinton to pick an Obama backer). That’s one of the oldest forms of ticket-balancing.
March 29th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
I’m not even sure who Mike Easley is. Granted, I will Google him as soon as I finish writing this message, but he’s not exactly a household name.
March 29th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
(…Googling…)
It turns out Easley is the governor of North Carolina.